The death of Wimbledon FC

BillieTheBot · May 2002

It seems that the FA has approved the move of WFC to Milton Keynes. I am absolutely gutted. This is as good as winding up the club. I no longer can identify myself with a club based 70 miles away in the biggest shithole in the United Kingdom. I can't fucking believe this is happening. That fucking lying scumbag of a chairman is only interested in the property deal he's signed. He stands to make a lot of money from the move, and sure as hell he'll leave the club the second the deal goes through <IMG SRC="mad.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> <IMG SRC="mad.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> <IMG SRC="mad.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> <IMG SRC="mad.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

For those who think they could not care less about WFC, the repercussions of the FA ruling are extremely serious for all smaller clubs. From now anyone with the money will be able to buy small clubs and move them wherever they want to give themselves and their towns an instant Nationwide League status. Luton, Bury and countless others are next. A very fucking sad day for football indeed <IMG SRC="frown.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> <IMG SRC="mad.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> <IMG SRC="mad.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

Former Member · May 2002

Shocking, what happens if no-one turns up to the games? Money over fans.....very sad <IMG SRC="frown.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

Former Member · May 2002

I think in all fairness the club is going to die anyway, you need your own ground and you need to fill it, it would be wonderful if you could do that in the Wimbledon area, but you can't <IMG SRC="frown.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

I feel for Wimbledon fans, but moving to Milton Keynes is probably going to improve the chances of survival <IMG SRC="frown.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

I'd travel to Milton Keynes every week if it were Forest by the way <IMG SRC="wink.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

Former Member · May 2002

The thing is there is a very realistic option of moving the club back to Merton where it belongs. Merton Council dropped its opposition about 3 years ago and is in fact lobbying hard now for WFC to go back. The owners of Wimbledon Greyhound stadium offered to sell the venue to WFC, the Council gave permission and a business venture even offered to rebuild it and then lease it back to the club (which would remove the need of finding £20million for work needed). But that lying bastard of Koppel has completely ignored all of this and repeatedly refused to meet with Merton Council or the club's supporters, all because he's hell-bent on taking the club to Milton Keynes and make himself some quick money. It's utterly disgusting <IMG SRC="mad.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">
The fact is many fans have refused to watch games at Selhurst Park (home of our biggest enemies) for obvious reasons. On a recent survey 10% of Merton’s residents said they would attend games again if the club was allowed to go back. That’s an instant 18,000 supporter-boost.
However not a single fan I know has bought a season ticket for next season, or plans to go to Milton Keynes. The gate receipts next season are going to be appalling, and the club will actually be in bigger danger of going under.
On top of that, within a few years the team will invariably change its name to Milton Keynes FC. It will cease to be Wimbledon FC altogether. I’d rather support a Sunday League pub team from Wimbledon.

I’m going to Soho Square after work to protest outside the FA with a few others. Not that it’s going to do any good… But perhaps we can bump into our beloved chairman and have a few words with him <IMG SRC="mad.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

Former Member · May 2002

Could be worse you could be in Ireland....

Former Member · May 2002

Originally posted by Toadborg:
Could be worse you could be in Ireland....

Have you ever actually been to Milton Keynes? <IMG SRC="biggrin.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

Former Member · May 2002

LOL, I guess some people travel further than that after all.

Well I went to the FA's headquarters in Soho Sq. but by the time I arrived the fun was over. There were only about 100 fans at the height of it but they managed to make a mess of the facade. Eggs, tomatoes, red paint, placards... when I arrived there were only a dozen or so left, and everybody looked as miserable as I felt. We went for a pint and that was pretty much a goodbye to many faces, since we'll have nowhere to go from next season and I won't see them again. That's it. No more meeting the lads at The Falcon on Saturday mornings before the game, no more playing cards on the train on away days. No more football. I can't still believe the FA have done this to us. <IMG SRC="frown.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> <IMG SRC="frown.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

Former Member · May 2002

Originally posted by Aladdin:
LOL, I guess some people travel further than that after all.

Well I went to the FA's headquarters in Soho Sq. but by the time I arrived the fun was over. There were only about 100 fans at the height of it but they managed to make a mess of the facade. Eggs, tomatoes, red paint, placards... when I arrived there were only a dozen or so left, and everybody looked as miserable as I felt. We went for a pint and that was pretty much a goodbye to many faces, since we'll have nowhere to go from next season and I won't see them again. That's it. No more meeting the lads at The Falcon on Saturday mornings before the game, no more playing cards on the train on away days. No more football. I can't still believe the FA have done this to us. <IMG SRC="frown.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> <IMG SRC="frown.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

If your willing to give up that easily your no supporter mate <IMG SRC="wink.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

no more playing cards on the train on away days.

<IMG SRC="confused.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> So moving to Milton Keynes makes everywhere else further away <IMG SRC="confused.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

I really feel for you, but you gotta stand by your club through thick and thin, your not the only club in the shit ask Bradford fans <IMG SRC="wink.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

These are hard times for alot of fans up and down the country, your the first I've heard who has taken the 'fuck it i'm deserting them' attitude.

Former Member · May 2002

Shocking news <IMG SRC="frown.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

How far down the lines in terms of the finances needed for this move are they? Still might be a while off yet? Time perhaps to broker some sort of agreement with Merton Council?

Maybe I'm just cluching at straws?

Former Member · May 2002

Originally posted by Ilson-Youth:
70miles away? whats your problem?? I dont think theres a Man Utd fan thats lives WITHIN 70 Miles...

Grrrrr <IMG SRC="mad.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

Former Member · May 2002

Sorry, but as we discussed before, I think that the death of Wimbledon would have happened if you'd stayed in London.

You need to generate more support, a larger supporter base, which isn't possible in London with so many competing teams. Without fans your club would surely die - are you suggesting that your travel arrangements are more important that your club?

If you want a clue to what is possible, just look at Livingston in Scotland. New owner, new town and their best ever finish.

Of course, if you really want to hang on to your past - Plough Lane etc - then I'm sure you would enjoy returning to the lower leagues like many of the other bankrupt clubs have done (Aldershot, Maidstone, Accrington Stanley etc) - at least then you could keep your 'pure' image...

########

And Ebb, thanks for saying that a real fan would be willing to travel big distances to watch his team play <IMG SRC="wink.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

Former Member · May 2002

The problem is not only travelling farther MoK. The move was not necessary anyway. The alleged £20,000 per day we were losing was considered by all independent experts a load of bollocks. Koppel had refused to include all proceedings from the sale of players and other receipts- and believe me, at the rate the bastard was selling players he's made a lot of money from that. In any case, we had not only the grounds of Plough Lane, which the council is trying to buy back, but also the Greyhound Stadium, almost ready to take us and with all parties concerned giving their approval.

The fact is Koppel has disfigured WFC beyond recognition. He has consistently sold our best players (and when they were most needed) and sacked or forced out staff that had been with the club for 20 years. From goalkeeping coaches to Public Address announcer (Chris Phillips from Kiss FM, who left in disgust) this man has driven out everyone who was Wimbledon, and filled the club with his cronies. Now he's going to move the club purely on the basis of a property deal he's struck with the people of Milton Keynes. I no longer can associate myself with the club. I don't recognise anybody there. Besides, the name will be changed to Milton Keynes sooner of later. Who would want to watch a 'local' team whose name is that of a place many miles away?

Speaking of Milton Keynes, the rulers of that soulless shithole have been trying this trick for years. There aren't many clubs around the north of London they have not tried to bring. Apparently they think their hellhole is one of the best, fastest-growing 'cities' in Europe <IMG SRC="rolleyes.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> and as such is inadmissible that Milton Keynes don't have a Premiership club. If the fucking tossers had gone and form a non-league club at the time they started trying to nick other clubs, they would probably have a Nationwide Second Division team by now. But that would obviously have not been enough for such inspiring, cosmopolitan place <IMG SRC="mad.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

Former Member · May 2002

Originally posted by Aladdin:
The problem is not only travelling farther MoK. The move was not necessary anyway. The alleged £20,000 per day we were losing was considered by all independent experts a load of bollocks. Koppel had refused to include all proceedings from the sale of players and other receipts- and believe me, at the rate the bastard was selling players he's made a lot of money from that. In any case, we had not only the grounds of Plough Lane, which the council is trying to buy back, but also the Greyhound Stadium, almost ready to take us and with all parties concerned giving their approval.

Are you suggesting that a club attracting as few fans as you do can survive in Div One, without making a loss?

The fact is Koppel has disfigured WFC beyond recognition... ...this man has driven out everyone who was Wimbledon, and filled the club with his cronies... ...I no longer can associate myself with the club. I don't recognise anybody there.

Oh please. Faces change over time, people move on. Get over it - how many of the players were there when you started to support the team, how many people (backroom) have been there since 1977 when you came up to the League?

Look at any club around the country, how many of them have completely changed in the past 10 years?

Is it the club or the people who you support?

And I'm sure that an announcer is a big loss to the club <IMG SRC="rolleyes.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

If the fucking tossers had gone and form a non-league club at the time they started trying to nick other clubs, they would probably have a Nationwide Second Division team by now. But that would obviously have not been enough for such inspiring, cosmopolitan place <IMG SRC="mad.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

But it's not in a council's remit to create a football team. The council have done what they see as best for their town by attracting a team who will bring visitors to the town (away supporters) and well as giving their town something to be proud of - their 'own' football team.

[ 29-05-2002: Message edited by: Man Of Kent ]

The death of Wimbledon FC

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